Senate Transportation Committee Meets at ECC to Receive Kane/McHenry Input on Public Transit Plan
I serve on the Senate Transportation Committee and this summer we have been holding hearings in Cook County and across the collar counties to solicit input on a proposal to reform the regional transit system into one organization with one 18-member board.
Last week we were at Elgin Community College and received testimony from county board chairs, mayors, and other community leaders from Kane and McHenry Counties. I appreciate the large turnout and valuable testimony provided by the local and county officials.
These hearings are ongoing, with two more scheduled in the coming weeks.
District 32 Outreach Events Continue into the Fall
With Labor Day now in the rearview mirror, we are moving into fall. I have these FREE community outreach events coming up in the 32nd District. I hope you’ll come out and join me at these upcoming events:
- September 11, Medicare 101: Nippersink Public Library, 5418 Hill Rd, Richmond, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 19, Barks & Brews: In cooperation with K9s4U at Kishwaukee Brewing Company, 1900 Dillard Court, Woodstock, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 25, Conversations Untapped: Richmond Brathaus, 10310 North Main Street, Richmond, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- October 2, Conversations Untapped: The Grove Pub and Grill, 2008 Main Street Road, Spring Grove, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- October 15, Senior Health Fair: Crystal Lake Park District Grand Oaks Building, 1401 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
You can visit the Events page on my website to learn more about these events.
Tax Credits Available for Parents and Educators
With students back in the classroom and a new school year underway, the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding eligible taxpayers that they may claim back-to-school expenses for their K-12 students on their 2024 individual income tax returns. With the high cost of living and taxes placing significant strain on working families, every bit of financial relief counts.
The Illinois Education Expense Credit allows parents or legal guardians of a full-time K-12 student under the age of 21 to take a 25% tax credit on qualified education expenses over $250, up to a maximum credit of $750. Eligible expenses include tuition, book rental, and lab fees paid to the school where the student is enrolled full-time. For families who homeschool, book rental and lab fees that exceed $250 also qualify, provided they are part of an approved home school program.
In addition to the credit for parents, Illinois also offers the K-12 Instructional Materials and Supplies Tax Credit for educators. Teachers, instructors, counselors, principals, and aides working in a qualified school for at least 900 hours during the school year can claim up to $500 for out-of-pocket expenses on classroom materials. For educator spouses filing jointly, the maximum credit doubles to $1,000.
Additional information regarding both tax credits may be found by visiting IDOR’s website at tax.illinois.gov and Pub-112, Education Expense Credit General Rules and Requirements for Schools, Home Schools, Parents, and Guardians.
Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Blocking Law That Limits Candidate Slating
The Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court’s ruling that blocked Senate Bill 2412, a controversial law signed by Governor Pritzker in May. I voted against the bill in the Senate. The bill aimed to halt the practice of slating candidates to fill ballot vacancies for the current election cycle, even as candidates were already collecting petition signatures and rearranging their lives to run for office. Republican lawmakers criticized the bill as an attempt to benefit Democratic incumbents and reduce voter choice in the upcoming election.
Governor Pritzker’s legislative allies petitioned the court to revisit the earlier ruling, but the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s decision, declaring the law unconstitutional since it attempted to alter election rules after the election cycle had begun. If the law Pritzker signed had taken effect, it would have prevented numerous candidates from being placed on the ballot in the 2024 general election. The measure drew swift criticism from many, including good government advocates, who viewed it as a blatant power grab by Democratic lawmakers to give vulnerable incumbents an advantage in November.
Under the recent ruling, candidates who had collected the required number of petition signatures by the official deadline will now be placed on the ballot for voter consideration.